Taking Care of Tutu - Navigating Estate Planning and Probate with Aloha

In this deeply personal episode, Meg sits down with Heritage Hall (name changed for privacy), a client who bravely agreed to share her family's story—an anonymous conversation from a small island community about love, caregiving, and a legal mystery decades in the making.

When a 98-year-old family matriarch needed 24-hour care, her family faced the daunting $15,000-a-month cost of a nursing home and turned...

In this episode of the Taking Care of Tutu podcast, we break down some of the frequently asked questions from last week at our law firm, which turned out to be different versions of a central question:   Should married couples always have a joint trust?

Spoiler alert — not always. Meg shares three common situations where a joint trust might actually create more problems than it solves. From blended family ...

It's not something we really want to think about, but it is something we all need. Our guests this week, Renie Menor and Raji Gaskin of Nakamura Mortuary and Maui Memorial Park, teach us about stress-free funeral planning. With Renie's extensive 15-year background in pre-planning and sales, paired with Raji's expertise as a funeral home manager and licensed embalmer, this discussion offers a compassionate and informed ...

Picture this: a small act of kindness, a simple meal delivered to someone in need, evolving into a 29-year legacy of community service. That's the story behind Nā Hoaloha, a nonprofit organization on Maui dedicated to enriching the lives of older adults. In this episode, Meg is joined by King Van Nostrand to unravel the offerings of Nā Hoaloha. With services ranging from friendly visits and medical transportation to gr...

From a post-wild fire Lahaina's market to mobile grocery trucks traveling into underserved areas, the Maui Food Bank is reimagining food assistance for Maui residents. In this episode, Meg welcomes Lisa Paulson, Executive Director of the Maui Food Bank, to explore how their programs are meeting urgent community needs.

You'll hear how the Food Bank's unique distribution system — including being the only foo...

What if people need food, water, and supplies, but they can't get to where those items are distributed? Join us as we hear from Chuck Spence of A Cup of Cold Water to hear the impactful story of an outreach mission on Maui dedicated to supporting the unsheltered community by traveling to them. This organization brings essential supplies directly to those in need, operating out of a well-stocked van. Learn how the missi...

Learn how Hale Kau Kau, located at  St. Theresa's Church in Kihei, is tackling food insecurity by providing dinner seven days a week, as well as dinner deliveries to homebound individuals. We listen while Matt Andrews, head chef, and Barry Rosenfeld, advisory board president, describe a day at Hale Kau Kau, where volunteers navigate six delivery routes to ensure each meal reaches its intended destination with care and ...

Gammie Home Care has been a cornerstone of the Maui community since 1986, and we've got its founder, Paul Gammie, and his daughter and business partner, Dale Shimabuku, on the podcast! We'll hear how Paul transitioned from a family rental business to a pioneer in the home medical equipment industry. Paul shares how he served the growing needs of Maui's aging population with personal anecdotes that bring to life the ess...

How can Tutu safeguard her real estate in Hawaii? If she's married, she can hold title as Tenants by the Entirety, even if she has a trust. Join Meg as she breaks down this often misunderstood method of holding title, exclusively available to married couples and registered reciprocal beneficiaries. You'll gain insights into how this ownership structure not only simplifies the transfer of property upon a spouse's passin...

Bevanne Bowers and Stanley Majka join us from Maui Mediation Services to highlight the critical role of compassionate mediation in resolving family and community disputes, showcasing how it serves as a powerful alternative to the often adversarial nature of court proceedings.

Explore the full spectrum of mediation services offered by Maui Mediation, from elder care to landlord-tenant conflicts. Stanley sha...

Tutu wants to protect her bones so if she falls, she can get right back up! Maui Physical Therapist Christie Newsom joins us to revolutionize our understanding of bone health through strength training. Inspired by renowned researcher Dr. Belinda Beck, Christie shares her study of the Onero system and why it is successful in managing osteoporosis. We uncover how engaging large muscle groups—like glutes and hips—transfor...

Tutu has questions, and we are here for them!

What if someone is the beneficiary of a trust, but the Trustee has not given them a copy of the trust or any idea what is happening?

How can she protect her property in case her child gets divorced or sued?

What if she already put that child on title? (sigh, tutu!!)

Her child wants to build an ohana on her property and tak...

Anders Lyons, Executive Director of Hale Mahaolu, joins us this week on the podcast to teach us all about the origins, mission, and services provided by Hale Mahaolu. From housing and meals to personal care and housing counseling, Anders shares the organization's commitment to fostering independent living through affordable housing options across Maui County. 

Whether you're a senior considering applying f...

Maui-raised entrepreneur Tiffany Chou tells us about the creation of Depo Market—a mission-driven retail space in Wailuku, Maui, and online, employing adults with disabilities. Our conversation explores Tiffany's journey as a caregiver, entrepreneur, and disability rights advocate. 

We follow Tiffany and her brother Chris's venture into the jewelry business, starting with their popup shop at the Kea Lani, ...

Meg Obenauf speaks with Autumn Ness, Executive Director of the Lahaina Community Land Trust, about what it takes to rebuild homes, community, culture, and long-term belonging after disaster. Listeners will learn the origin story of the Lahaina Community Land Trust after the Lahaina wildfire, how the Land Trust model keeps housing affordable in perpetuity, and the Land Trust's innovative housing allocation process that ...

Maui girl Heidi Ho, attorney and founder of Pono Legal, visits us to tell about growing up with her trailblazing mother, Diane Ho, and how it inspired her path in law and advocacy. 

Following the Maui Wildfires, Heidi swiftly formed Pono Legal, a community lawyering nonprofit that extended support to firefighters, police officers, teachers, and many displaced Maui residents. She and her team tackled insura...

Hear from Claudia Rosenbaum, service supervisor at Ka Lima O Maui, a local nonprofit providing job placements and day programs for adults with disabilities. Claudia describes how community members can get services from Ka Lima O Maui via the state Department of Health and the Medicaid waiver program, highlighting how these efforts facilitate personal growth and community integration. From maintaining academic skills to...